Measuring device for mixed drinks



Jan. 20, 1970 E- B. BILSON MEASURING DEVICE FOR MIXED DRINKS Filed June10, 1968 FIG.2

FIG.1

FIG. 3

INVENTOI? EDWARD B. B/L soxv ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,490,290MEASURING DEVICE FOR MIXED DRINKS Edward B. Bilson, 3716 N. Drake Ave.,Chicago, Ill. 60618 Filed June 10, 1968, Ser. No. 735,631 Int. Cl. G01f19/00 US. Cl. 73427 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A measuringdevice comprises a cup having integral sections of definite volumetriccapacities with an opening through the bottom. A pouring spout hingedadjacent the bottom of the cup has an upwardly projecting plug ofneoprene or similar material that fits in the opening to seal it. Thespout is spring pressed to hold it in sealing position. When the desiredvolumes of different ingredients are poured into the cup, the spout maybe moved pivotally downwardly to remove the sealing plug from the.opening so that the contents will spill into the spout and pour into amixing receptacle or glass.

This invention relates to a measuring device for mixed drinks, and isparticularly concerned with means for receiving predetermined volumes ofdifferent liquids, holding them, and then pouring the mixture into amixing receptable or glass.

In mixing drinks it is customary to pour each ingredient from itscontainer into a measuring device, such as a small glass or a spoon, andthen pour it from the glass or spoon into a larger glass or a mixingreceptacle. Each of these pouring operations takes some time and alsooffers an opportunity for the user to spill some of the ingredients.Even if none of the liquids are spilled, a small portion of each willadhere to the spoon or small glass. Often successive drinks made fromthe same recipe are not uniform because the amount of liquid sticking tothe small glass or spoon may vary.

The measuring device of the present invention reduces the possibility ofvariances in the composition of a mixed drink by eliminating thenecessity of pouring each ingredient separately from a small glass orspoon. The measuring device comprises a single cup having a plurality ofintegral sections. Each ingredients is accurately measured as it ispoured into the cup, and all of the ingredients are poured out of thecup as a mixture instead of being separately poured from individualmeasuring devices. The bottom of the cup has an opening that is normallysealed by a plug mounted on a pouring spout. A spring exerts a constantforce urging the pouring spout into sealing position. When the mixtureis to be poured from the cup, the pouring spout is moved from sealingposition by finger pressure exerted against the spring.

Suitable structure by means of which the above mentioned and otheradvantages of the invention are attained is fully described in thefollowing specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a measuring device embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view; and

FIG. 4 is a view with a portion of the device broken away and with thepouring spout in pouring position.

Referring to the drawings, a cup 11 of approximately conical shapecomprises a bottom wall 12 and an outwardly flared side wall 13 offsetat various heights to provide integral sections. The cup is preferablyplastic, but may be made of any suitable material that is not deleteri-"ice ously affected by alcohol. A flat annular rim 14 projectinginwardly from the side wall defines the upper edge of each section ofthe cup. Each section has a definite volumetric capacity that may bemarked in any suitable manner on the outer surface of the side wall. Theannular rims make it easy to see when each section is filled, and thusfacilitates accurate measurement of the various ingredients of the mixeddrink as they are poured into the cup. After it has been poured into thecup, they are poured from the cup into a glass or mixing receptaclethrough an opening 15 in the bottom wall 12 and a pouring spout 16located below the opening.

A lug 17, preferably integral with the cup 11, extends downwardly fromthe side wall 13 on the outside of the cup and terminates in laterallyspaced relationship to the bottom wall 12. The pouring spout 16comprises a bottom wall 18 and an upstanding side wall 19. A pair ofspaced parallel ears 20 project upwardly from the bottom wall 18adjacent opposite sides of the lower end portion of the lug 17. A pin21, projecting through apertures in both ears 20 and the lug 17,pivotally secures the pouring spout to the lug 17. The bottom wall 18 ofthe cup extends beyond the cars 20, and a bar 22, integral with thepouring spout extends upwardly and outwardly from the end of the wall 18beyond the cars 20. When the bar 22 is pressed toward or away from theside wall 13, the pouring spout moves pivotally about the pin 21. Aspring 23 exerts a constant force urging the bar 22 outwardly, thusholding the bottom wall of the pouring spout against the bottom of thecup.

A plug 24 that is fixed to the bottom wall 18 projects above it toprovide a fiat top surface larger than the opening 15. When the springholds the bar 22 in its outermost position, the plug 24 seals theopening 15 in the bottom wall of the cup. The upstanding wall 19 iscircularly disposed throughout most of its length and encircles asubstantial portion of the bottom of the cup, leaving a gap adjacent theside of the cup most remote from the bar 22. The side wall 19 is bentfrom its circular configuration at each end of said gap to provide apair of spaced parallel wall sections 25 and 26 that cooperate with adownwardly inclined portion 27 of the bottom wall 18 to form a lip forthe pouring spout 16.

The side wall 13 has a finger grip 28 projecting therefrom indiametrically opposed relationship to the lug 17. When the mixture is tobe poured from the cup 11, the finger grip 28 and the bar 22 are bothgripped in the users hand. A squeezing action pushes the bar inwardlyagainst the action of the spring 23, thus moving the pouring spoutclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, about the pivot 21. This pivotalmovement of the pouring spout disengages the plug 24 from the opening15, and the mixture flows downwardly through the opening 15 and thespout 16. When the pressure holding the bar 22 against the sidewall ofthe cup is released, the spring 23 moves the pouring spoutcounterclockwise to cause the plug 24 to again seal the opening 15.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description isintended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details ofstructure may be modified or changed without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restrictedto the exact structure disclosed.

I claim:

1. A measuring device comprising a measuring cup and a pouring spout,said measuring cup comprising a circular bottom wall having an apertureand an outwardly flared side wall extending upwardly from said bottomwall, a lug projecting from the outer surface of said side wall, meanspivotally securing said pouring spout to said lug with said pouringspout positioned below said aperture, a plug mounted on said pouringspout and selectively engageable with said aperture to seal it, andmeans resiliently urging said pouring spout into a position with saidplug sealing said aperture. 1

2. A measuring device as recited in claim 1, in which said side wall hasa plurality of inwardly extending annular rims spaced vertically atvarious intervals to define the upper edges of a plurality ofinterconnected sections of definite volumetric capacities.

3. A measuring device as recited in claim 1, in which said pouring spoutcomprises a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall encircling a majorportion of the bottom of said cup and providing a gap diametricallyopposite said lug, the side wall of said pouring spout extendingoutwardly at each end of said gap and cooperating with the bottom wallof said spout t0 define a pouring lip.

4. A measuring device as recited in claim 2, in which the bottom-Wall ofsaid pouring spout extends beyond said pivot means and said secondmentioned means com- 42,684 5/1864 Otis 73427 X 1,094,350 4/1914 Walter141345 1,330,537 2/1920 Hoyt 73426 X 1,401,763 12/ 1921 Damon 73427 XLOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner DANIEL M. YASICH, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 14l345; 2201

